Leakage tester for threaded pipe couplings



Feb. 26, 1952 H MEYER LEAKAGE TESTER FOR THREADED PIPE COUPLINGS FiledJuly e, 1948 Era: .2.

Patented Feb. 26, 1952 GFFICE LEAKAGE TESTER FOR THREADED PIPE COUPLINGSHerman Meyer, Long Beach, Calif. Application July 6, 1948, Serial No.37,247

(Cl. 'Z3-46) 4 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to a leakage tester for threaded pipe couplingsin which the area at and adjacent to the threaded coupling may be testedto determine if there is a leakage in the pipe coupling or threads atthis point. I have deterv mined that in oil well drill pipe and tubing,that the leakages usually occur around the pipe couplings in the threadsof the pipe or coupling, or immediately above or below the coupling.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel leakage tester forthreaded pipe couplings, including two or more packings which aresqueezed around the pipe at spaced intervals so that a pressure testercan be applied to the pipe between the packings.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel leakage pipetesterv for threaded pipe couplings in which the packing member issqueezed inwardly against the pipe by engaging a tapered seat, andvfurther, in which the packing is caused to squeeze inwardly against thepipe by a slight downward movement of the packing on its seat.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel tester of thecharacter stated in which slips or pipe gripping means are provided andconnected to the packing members, this pipe gripping means engaging thepipe and pulling the packing downwardly and inwardly against the pipe onslight downward movement of the pipe to be tested. v Y i vvA feature ofmy invention is to provide a novel tester of the character statedthrough which the pipe continuously moves as it is being withdrawn fromor run into the well, thus enabling the .op-

erator to test any or all of the threaded joints.

Still another feature of my invention is to provide a tester of thecharacter statedwhioh will rapidly and effectively test the pipecouplings or other sections of the pipe as the pipe is being moved inthe well.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from theaccompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and theappended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of my tester in position on asection of pipe.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modied for'm of tester.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of still another modificationof my tester.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one of the packing members.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the

numeral I, indicates a suitable stationary portion of an oil well, forexample, the drilling table, a flow head or some other xed element atthe top'of the well. My tester'2, includes a cylindrical body 3,provided with a fiange 4, at the lower end, and a similar ange 5, at theupper end. The -flange 4,' is bolted to the stationary member I, bymeans of bolts or studs, 6. Ihe pipe l, extends through the tubularhousing 3, as shown, and this pipe is made up with a plurality ofstands, each stand or pipe section being connected by a threadedcoupling 8. It is this coupling 8, and the pipe sections adjacent to -itwhich cause leakage in the pipe string, and it is this area that Ipropose to test.

Considering first the modication shown in Figure 1, the housing 3 isprovided with an internal tapered seat 9, adjacent the upper end, and asecond tapered seat I0, adjacent the lower end thereof. 'I'hese seatsare spaced so that the cou- `pling 8, can be positioned between them. Apipe carrying fluid under pressure, extends into the housing 3, betweenthe seats 9 and I0. The purpose of introducing vthe fluid under pressurebetween these seats will be subsequently described.

An annular packing I2, rests on the seat 9, and is preferably tapered toconform with the taper of the seat. A second annular packing I3,- restson the seat I0, and preferably conforms with the taper of this seat. Thepackings I2 and I3 are each split as shownat I4, so that they can beopened for thepurpose of encircling the pipe 1. A plurality of strapsI5, are embeddedin the packings I2 and I3, and connect these packings.

In operation, the housing 3, is bolted to the stationary member I, andthe pipe 1, is pulled upwardly through it. When a coupling 8, appears,the packings I2 and I3, are placed around the pipe above and below thecoupling, and the pipe is then lowered slidably with the packing I 2,engaging the seat 9, and the packing I3 engaging the seat I6. Thecoupling 8 will briefly rest on the lower packing I3, as shown, and whenweight is placed on the tester by moving the pipe 1, downwardly, aslight amount, the coupling 8 will press the packing I3, tightly againstits seat and will squeeze the packing inwardly. The straps I5, will alsopull the packing I 2 downwardly, 'and simultaneously squeeze thispacking inwardly around the pipe. The area above and below the coupling8, is now sealed and pressure is now exerted in the space I S, byintroducing uid under pressure through the pipe II. This pressure isgauged by a pressure gauge extending In Figure 2, the housing 3,includes an upper tapered seat Il, a lower tapered seat I8, and a sliphousing i9, adjacent the bottom of the housing. An upper annular packing29, engages the seat i1, a lower annular packing 2l, engages the seatI8, and slips 22, are mounted in the space I9. The slips 22, are eachconnectedy to the packing and 2l, by means of al plurality of straps 23.The slips 22, are controlled in their inward and outward movement bysuitable manual operating means 24. In this modification, the slips '22,grip the pipe 1, and slight downward movement of this pipe will pressthe packings 20 and 2| against their respective seats, and squeeze thesepackings inwardly around the pipe to seal the space above and below thecoupling 8. Pressure is again introduced around the coupling through thepipe 25, the same as previously described. The operation of this deviceis the same as described under Figure 1.

In Figure 3, I have shown a modification in which the threads above andbelow the coupling 8, can be individually tested. The housing 3, isprovided with an upper tapered seat 26, a central tapered seat 2l, and alower tapered seat, 28. An annular split packing 29, rests on the seat26, an annular split packing 39, rests on the seat 2l. and an annularsplit packing 3l, rests on the seat 28. These packings are all connectedby a plurality of straps 32, which cause all of them to move in theirrespective seats, and squeeze inwardly around the pipe. A pipe 33,carries fluid under pressure in the area above the coupling 8, and asecond pipe 34, carries fluid under pressure to the area below thecoupling. Thus, it is possible to individually test the area above andbelow the coupling 8.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A leakage tester for threaded pipe couplings i comprising a tubularhousing, spaced seats in' said housing, an annular-,packing encirclingthe pipe adapted to rest on each of said seats, said housing, seats andpacking being vertically arranged, said seats being coaxial with thepipe to be tested. and a pressure conduit extending into said housingbetween said seats, and slips in said housing f below the packing andengageable with the pipe, and straps attached to said slips and each ofsaid packings.

2. A leakage tester for threaded pipe couplings comprising a tubularhousing, spaced tapered seats in said housing the smallest diameter ofsaid seats being sufficiently large to permit passage of the pipe, splitand annular packing adapted to rest on each of said seats, said housing,seats and packing being vertically arranged. said seats being coaxialwith the pipe to be tested, said packing frictionally engaging the pipe,and pressed against the pipe by engagement with the tapered seat, andstraps attached to said packings, and a pressure conduit extending intosaid housing between said seats.

3. A leakage tester for threaded pipe couplings comprising a 4tubularhousing, spaced tapered seats in said housing the smallest diameter ofsaid seats being suiliciently large to permit passage of the pipe, splitand annular packing adapted to rest on each of said seats, said housing,seats and packing being vertically arranged, said seats being coaxialwith the pipe to be tested, said packing frictionally engaging the pipe,and pressed against the pipe by engagement with the tapered seat, andstraps attached to said packings, and slips engaging the pipe andpositioned below the lower packing, and means coupling said slips to thepacking, and a pressure conduit extending into said housing between saidseats.

4. A leakage. tester for threaded pipe couplings comprising a tubularhousing surrounding said couplings, vertically spaced tapered seats insaid housing .the smallest diameter of said seats being suiciently largeto permit passage of the pipe,

Y an annular packing resting on each of said seats,

said housing, seats and packing being vertically arranged, said seatsbeing coaxial withthe pipe to be tested, said packingfrictionallyengaging the pipe and pressed against the pipe by engagementwith the tapered seats, straps secured to and connecting said packings,slips engaging the pipe and positioned below the lower packing, saidstraps being attached to the slips, and a pressure conduit extendinginto said housing between said seats.

HERMAN MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of krecord in the file ofthis patent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Henderson Sept. 6, 1949

